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Why is coffee bad for you? (part 2)

February 21, 2019

In the first part of this article, we saw how good coffee can be. This fact can make coffee lovers very happy. But before you make any final conclusions, take your time to understand the bad effects coffee may also have on your health.

Caffeine Can Lead to Anxiety

One of the unwanted possible effects coffee can have on you is anxiety. Not only that but, having too much caffeine can cause heart palpitations and can worsen panic attacks. This is especially relevant for people who are sensitive to caffeine and who can become overstimulated. Of course, people prone to anxiety and panic attack are more likely to feel this. So if you notice such reactions from your body, then you should reduce or avoid coffee altogether.

Coffee Can Disrupt Your Sleep

Yes, coffee can be your best friend in the morning when you’re struggling with opening your eyes. However, it can also become your enemy that doesn’t let you sleep at night. If you notice that coffee reflects on your sleep quality, try skipping your afternoon coffee, especially after 2 p.m. This is another thing that varies and depends on your individual case but just like with anything else, if you feel coffee is bad for you, try going a few days without it to see if that’s really the reason. If you love your afternoon coffee so much, then you have a cup of decaf.

Coffee Is Addictive

Coffee really is addictive and sadly, as a dedicated coffee drinker, I can confirm this. I started my relationship with coffee when I was 11 (too soon, I know), and I know I do feel bad if I skip a cup, especially in the morning. I get headaches, I become irritated and I feel like I can’t think straight. When people consume caffeine on a regular basis, they become tolerant of it, so it stops working as it did in the beginning and you might need a larger dose. For example, if you’re used to having a cup of coffee in the morning to wake you up and that is working for you, you might notice that after some time you may need 2 or 3 cups to do this and at some point, even this amount may lose its effect!

The lack of caffeine can cause withdrawal symptoms like headaches, brain fog, irritability, and fatigue. However, if you do want to quit coffee, the good news is this last only for a few days and after that, your body will naturally learn to deal without caffeine.

Coffee Can Be Bad for Your Digestion

Coffee is an acidic beverage so it increases the acidity in your stomach. This can cause digestive discomfort, abdominal pain, and imbalance in your gut flora. However, this has not been actually backed by scientific research. So if you notice any of these symptoms, go to your doctor before you rush to any conclusion.

How to Get The Most Out of Coffee?

If you really love coffee and you believe in its health benefits and have no intention of quitting, have in mind that there are some things you can still do to maximize its health effects.

Don’t add sugar to your coffee

That’s the easiest and worst way to make coffee unhealthy. Even some diet sweeteners can be bad for you because they often contain aspartame which as we all know is very bad for you. If you need your coffee to be a bit sweeter, you can add honey or agave syrup to it.

If you’re getting your coffee drinks at some cafés, make sure you’re not getting a coffee drink with tons of sweeteners, cream, and artificial fragrances.

Have filtered coffee

Unfiltered coffee like Turkish coffee or the one from a French press contains cafestol. This substance increases cholesterol levels so it’s recommended to brew your coffee with a paper filter.

Don’t drink too much coffee

Coffee sure can be healthy but nothing good is good in excessive amounts. Two-three cups a day can be highly beneficial but if you drink coffee like water, that can be bad for your heart, digestion and brain function.